Playing w/ the dakota

[Gary's Hemi]

Well I have been playing w/ the dakota the past 2 days. I took the drop off b/c it rode like ass & I was tired of it. My ram w/ the 5/8 rides fine but the dak w/ the 2/4 rode like poo. So I raised it back up to stock height & while I was @ it I washed it, waxed it, put new shocks on it, changed the oil & trans fluid & filters, cleaned & armoralled under the hood & put new seat covers in it.

Well I have been thinking about doing a 3" body lift & a set of 31" or 32" all terrains on it & maybe a black brush guard. I have never owned a slightly lifted truck & I just want it to have a nice aggresive look but nothing to major. I cant do a suspension lift to it b/c its an 04 & they dont make anything for an 04. I would like to do a 31 or 32" x 10.5 tire in either a 16" tire or get new eagle alloy 15" rims w/ the tires. What do yall think? I know the truck isnt a 4wd but I think it would be a fun project. Here are some pics of the truck & some pics of a 2wd truck w/ the 3" bl & 31's

[Gary's Hemi]

Here is what it looked like FILTHY w/ the 2/4 drop when it snowed a couple weeks ago. It hadnt been washed for about a month until today

[adamsredlines]

Would look awesome lifted!
Doooooooooo iiiiittttttt!!!!

[Gary's Hemi]

Would look awesome lifted!
Doooooooooo iiiiittttttt!!!!

Awesome. I got what I wanted out of the ram now its back to the dakota lol.

[Gary's Hemi]

Here is the brush guard & a possible wheel & tire combo

[03DakStampede]

What was your drop setup for the dakota?

[Gary's Hemi]

2" coils & 4" angled blocks w/ belltech nitro 2 drop shocks all the way around. It needed to be notched & the front hit bumps hard. I know shackles & hangers would have been better but I didnt feel like changing to them b/c to me the truck just didnt look good w/ a drop. It needed shorter tires & the truck is all scratched & beat up so it just didnt look good to me. I have 1 dropped truck anyway & I need atleast 1 of my trucks to be able to be used as a truck.

[coley 1334]

make it a pre runner daks look sick when they are all throphy trucked out

[05DodgeDakota]

I'd wouldn't do the grille guard. There fun but get old after awhile. I also wouldn;t do a Body lift, they look like ass, espically on the older trucks. Level it out in the front and then do a nice 31x10.5R15

[austin4.7]

you ran shitty shocks that why it rode like shit. if you put a l on it i will find you and kill you. if you must do a lift do suspension

[Gary's Hemi]

A nitro 2 is a good shock. They are awesome on the ram.

[Gary's Hemi]

make it a pre runner daks look sick when they are all throphy trucked out

Na I dont want to go that far w/ it

[Gary's Hemi]

I'd wouldn't do the grille guard. There fun but get old after awhile. I also wouldn;t do a Body lift, they look like ass, espically on the older trucks. Level it out in the front and then do a nice 31x10.5R15

I cant level the fron out. I tried. The 04 dakotas will not take a spring bigger than a stock 1. Everybody on dakota durango says the only way to lift the 04's is a body lift

[zemog255]

I cant level the fron out. I tried. The 04 dakotas will not take a spring bigger than a stock 1. Everybody on dakota durango says the only way to lift the 04's is a body lift

What about coil spacers? To just level it.

[Gary's Hemi]

What about coil spacers? To just level it.

Will not work. I tried that. I used a spring compressor, my 230 lb buddy pushing on everything while I was trying to put the ball joint nut on. Wasnt happening. The 04 was the only year dak that body style w/ that suspension.

[zemog255]

Will not work. I tried that. I used a spring compressor, my 230 lb buddy pushing on everything while I was trying to put the ball joint nut on. Wasnt happening. The 04 was the only year dak that body style w/ that suspension.

Man that sucks I didn't think coil spacers would matter. I guess you are stuck with the body lift if if you want to lift it.

[Gary's Hemi]

Man that sucks I didn't think coil spacers would matter. I guess you are stuck with the body lift if if you want to lift it.

yea. Some people say to lift it & some people say to leave it stock so idk. I want to lift it

[03DakStampede]

I like them either way. Im getting ready to do a 2/4 drop on my truck with springs up front and hangers in the rear. Im also going to use QA1'a all the way around to get alittle softer ride on the street and firm it up abit when I want the handling

[Gary's Hemi]

I like them either way. Im getting ready to do a 2/4 drop on my truck with springs up front and hangers in the rear. Im also going to use QA1'a all the way around to get alittle softer ride on the street and firm it up abit when I want the handling

Yea. I had it dropped for a year but just got tired of it. I'm loving the way it drives w/ the stock height. So much better all the way around. I figured I already have my fast 5/8 dropped ram so the dak will either stay the way it is now or get lifted a lil. I love a lowered dak. They look great but 1 lowered truck is enough for me

[Gary's Hemi]

What do yall think about these wheels on the dak. They are 16x8's. These w/ like a 31x11.5 all terrain tire w/ a 3" body lift. Or should I just save my $500 on new rims & keep my stock 1's

[austin4.7]

lowered or stock on r/t wheels

[Gary's Hemi]

lowered or stock on r/t wheels

or maybe skip the dakota & get a new set of track tires for the ram :confused:

[sldhemi]

Keep the stock wheels or find some used R/T wheels IMO, I wouldn't go with an 11.50 tire either, it'll rub more than not... 30x9.5 or 31x10.50 depending on how much wheel well room

[Gary's Hemi]

Keep the stock wheels or find some used R/T wheels IMO, I wouldn't go with an 11.50 tire either, it'll rub more than not... 30x9.5 or 31x10.50 depending on how much wheel well room

Ok. I can get a 265/70/16 all terrain which is 30.6" tall & 10.6" wide.

[Onebadbee]

just drive the damn dakota is your POS

personally how i would feel towards my ram if i had a second vehicle

[adamsredlines]

Or leave it alone and put that money into the Ram.

What kind of fool messes with the suspension on their daily driver when they have a sexy red ram that's begging for attention?
Oh....wait....nevermind....

[Gary's Hemi]

just drive the damn dakota is your POS

personally how i would feel towards my ram if i had a second vehicle

lol I'm just bored.

Its either the lift & tires for the dak or a new set of dr's or slicks, tb & pulley for the ram

[Gary's Hemi]

Or leave it alone and put that money into the Ram.

What kind of fool messes with the suspension on their daily driver when they have a sexy red ram that's begging for attention?
Oh....wait....nevermind....

:stupid: hahahahahaha

[adamsredlines]

All jokes aside....surf the dakdur classifieds for a body lift or some rims you like....gotta make the daily enjoyable, just do it on a budget.

[Onebadbee]

well hold off gary im running this weekend with my new set up and ill let you know

[Gary's Hemi]

All jokes aside....surf the dakdur classifieds for a body lift or some rims you like....gotta make the daily enjoyable, just do it on a budget.

I have been on there alot lately lol

[Gary's Hemi]

well hold off gary im running this weekend with my new set up and ill let you know

I think I'm just going to get the hoosiers this time around

[Onebadbee]

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b201/redline_tsi/securedownload-2.jpg

[sldhemi]

All jokes aside....surf the dakdur classifieds for a body lift or some rims you like....gotta make the daily enjoyable, just do it on a budget.

Couldn't agree more, i enjoy driving everyday even just back/forth to school and work... Even though i took the spray off, at any given time I can duck off into a random mudhole